FAIRFAX, Va. – Sophomore Tyler Zombro delivered seven and one-third strong innings as the George Mason baseball team improved to 5-8 in the 3-1 victory over Manhattan College (2-11) on Friday.

Zombro allowed only one hit through the first five innings of play, five total in his time on the mound. Seven Jaspers struck out while Zombro allowed one walk and one run to score in his second win of the season.

Both teams cruised through the first four-and-a-half innings of play with only one hit from either side. Trevor Kelly singled for the second time of the game to lead off the bottom of the fifth and would end up advancing to second on a throwing error from third baseman Michael Pfenninger. Andrew Sable singled over first base to bring Kelly in for the 1-0 lead.

Run number two of the game for the Patriots came across in the next inning after Michael Smith and Brandon Gum led off with singles followed by a Kent Blackstone bunt that let him load the bases. Kelly drove in his first run of the game after drawing a walk in the next at bat off of pitcher Matt Simonetti.

Manhattan closed the gap to one run in the bottom of the eighth when Kelly fielded a ground ball at first and attempted to make a play at home.  Chris Reynolds started to make his way home after the chopper to Kelly, who threw to Blackstone and was unable to apply the tag before Reynolds reached home plate. The run was answered in the bottom frame when Jake Kalish pinch hit for Derek Evans and singled home Blackstone who was on second base at the time.

Joe Williams relieved Zombro with one out in the eighth inning with men on second and third base and was able to get the next two batters swinging to escape the threat and preserve the lead. Tyler Tobin tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.

The series is scheduled to continue on Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Spuhler Field.